Simpson Thacher announced it is representing JPMorgan Chase as administrative agent and J.P. Morgan Securities as lead arranger and bookrunner in connection with the $680 million committed financing for the $1.4 billion acquisition of R.L. Polk & Co. by IHS Inc. The acquisition is expected to be consummated later this year.

Simpson Thacher is also representing J.P. Morgan Securities as lead arranger and joint bookrunner for proposed amendments to IHS’s $1.473 billion 2011 credit facility and Merrill Lynch as lead arranger and joint bookrunner for proposed amendments to IHS’s $250 million 2012 credit facility. The proposed amendments would allow IHS to acquire R.L. Polk and incur indebtedness in connection therefor.

R.L. Polk is the owner of the used-car shopping tool Carfax and is a provider of data about the automotive market.

IHS offers forecasting and data services in a wide range of industries.

The Simpson Thacher team includes James T. Knight, Seth Niedermayer and Adam Moss (credit), Ed Chung (M&A), Rob Holo and Sophie Staples (tax), Joyce Xu and Bennet Surajat (derivatives), Michael Isby (environmental) and Jamin Koslowe (ECEB).